Democratizing complex surgeries with AI-powered surgical superpowers

Our latest episode features Nick Damiano, Co-Founder and CEO of Andromeda Surgical, the Y Combinator backed startup reimagining robotic surgery. Nick walks us through his journey from building Nurep and Zenflow to founding Andromeda Surgical in 2023. We explore how their AI-powered platform enables autonomous assistance for surgical procedures, starting with the HoLEP procedure for prostate cancer. Andromeda's technology gives surgeons superpowers by combining real-time imaging and AI guidance to provide precision and reduce variability.

In this conversation, Nick shares why shifting from purely physical robotics to cognitive assistance is the next frontier. He explains how Andromeda’s system acts like a virtual co-pilot in the OR, empowering surgeons with enhanced decision support and consistent performance. We also discuss the challenge of designing a user-friendly interface, the regulatory pathway for autonomous systems, and how Andromeda aims to make HoLEP accessible to urologists globally—truly democratizing the procedure and raising the standard of patient care.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone fascinated by surgical innovation, AI in healthcare, or building hard-tech startups that aim to empower clinicians and deliver cutting-edge care more broadly.